Vintage bus design pays tribute to Sussex artist

The Brighton and Hove Bus Company has unveiled its latest 'Get Bus(y)' design, promoting the South Downs.

The new bus, with its soft pastel colours and vintage interiors, is all about the countryside surrounding the city -  the South Downs National Park.

Designed and illustrated by Jamie Eke, the bus pays tribute to Sussex artist Eric Ravilious, whose work during the 1920s and 30s included many South Downs landscapes. Ravilious's engravings and woodcuts, and his use of patterns and blocks of pastel colour, were the inspiration behind the bus's unique 'wallpaper' design.

Mr Eke said: 'Ravilious's work is amazing '“ in many ways it looks so contemporary, so fresh.  It really has stood the test of time.'

The bus interiors have a vintage 1930s feel and were designed by Mr Eke's colleague Scott Welti at Harrison Agency, working with Chloe Bullock from Brighton's Materialise Interiors.

Jamie, aged 25 '“ who grew up in the city and went to Hove Park, BHASVIC and City College before doing a degree in graphic design at the University of Brighton '“ is getting used to seeing his work around town.

Last year his illustration for Brighton Fringe featured on the front cover of their brochure and on all the Fringe banners and posters.  Now the South Downs Ravilious-inspired bus will carry his beautiful hand-drawn illustrations far and wide, as it will be used across Brighton and Hove's network of routes.

He said: 'It'll be great to have my work out and about on the city streets '“ and it'll be nice to actually get on and go somewhere on the Downs bus too!'